OT: Trip to Colorado....

[BogeyGolfer.sixpack]

We are traveling to Colorado for the first time in a couple of weeks. We are flying into Colorado Springs, driving to Breckenridge with a stop off at Pikes Peak. Is there anything else that would be something to do or see on the way to Breckenridge? We are spending a couple of days in Breckenridge and hope to go white water rafting and play golf. Our final two days we are driving over to Grand Junction. Any suggestions for the drive from Breck to Grand Junction? Places to stop and see, lunch etc.... Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!

 

[Shmuley]

Hydrate. Hydrate some more. Pace yourself. Elevation can be a *****.

 

[PBRME]

It’s puff puff give. Don’t 17 up the rotation.

 

[jb1020]

Will you mail me some edibles?

TIA

 

[the dog is on the loose]

What shmuley said. My first trip was horrible because of altitude sickness. Threw up and had a headache like a muther. Went to local clinic and had to get on oxygen because blood oxygen was 83. Slept with oxygenator one night and was good to go after that.

 

[EthelTheBulldog]

Drive thru the Rockies is awesome.
Garden of the Gods is a must.
Air Force Academy is cool.
I think the Cog railway is now closed.
Royal Gorge is out of the way, but the railroad in the Gorge was great.
Manitou Springs is a nice unique small town.

 

[fishwater99]

https://www.visitcos.com/

Play golf in the Springs https://www.broadmoor.com/

Garden of the Gods.. Must go.. https://www.gardenofgods.com/

Raft the Arkansas near Buena Vista or Western Colorado near Glenwood springs.
South Park is on the way to Breck, not much on that drive, but it's beautiful.
I would drive the long way and go over Independence pass into Aspen from Leadville, take the Cooper exit off I70 on way to Grand Junction.
Stop In Glenwood Springs
Hot Springs in Glenwood, don't go to big one, go to Iron Mountain, they serve alcohol
https://www.ironmountainhotsprings.com/


Go to a winery near grand Junction.
https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/

Colorado National Monument
https://www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm

Enjoy

 

[Arnold Babar.sixpack]

We drive every summer from Houston to Vail. If you can stay a night in Colorado Springs I would recommend staying at the Broadmoor. It's fantastic. If you have kids, the Cheyenne Mountian Zoo just outside Colorado Springs is great as well. If you like to fly fish, find a outfitter in Breckenridge and ask if they have access to private water. If they do, do it. It's worth it. That's about all I got. Colorado is fantastic in the summer. Have a great trip.

 

[Arnold Babar.sixpack]

Hey Fishwater, I drove Independence Pass going home one year in the pouring rain, with 3 kids fighting in the car. 2,000 ft canyon drop offs with no 17ing guardrails on the sides of the road. That is the definition of white knuckling it. I was shitting my pants. That drive still haunts me.

 

[Dawg1976]

I drove Independence Pass in the early 80's and it was a white knuckler w/o guardrails. Drove it again around 2004 but didn't seem as scary. I think they added some rails somewhere along the way. I'm headed to CO mid August. Doubt I drive the Pass again but lot's of other things I want to see that I haven't on previous trips.

 

[hdogg]

https://www.visitcos.com/

Play golf in the Springs https://www.broadmoor.com/

Garden of the Gods.. Must go.. https://www.gardenofgods.com/

Raft the Arkansas near Buena Vista or Western Colorado near Glenwood springs.
South Park is on the way to Breck, not much on that drive, but it's beautiful.
I would drive the long way and go over Independence pass into Aspen from Leadville, take the Cooper exit off I70 on way to Grand Junction.

Enjoy

I agree 100% with this - we did it last year. We stayed in Buena Vista, which is about an hour from Breckenridge. Our kids were 7/9 so we did half day rafting trip from River Runners, but they could probably have done the full day.

Independence pass is awesome.
If you do go thru Aspen, the Maroon Bells are really cool. I did a 4-day backpacking trip around them a few years back, but you can just stop at the Bells, or do a short 1-mile hike to a higher lake. It goes get crowded if you arrive too late but they have shuttles.

Apparently you can rent a mountain bike in Breck and take it up the gondola and bike down.

 

[desotodawg]

Lots of things to do in COS and between COS and Breckenridge. In COS, it's been mentioned: Garden of the Gods ( a Must ), Drive the Pikes Peak Hwy, Air Force Academy, Cheyenne Mtn, Boadmoor, Pro Rodeo HoF, Olympic Training Center, 7 Falls, North Cheyenne Canyon ( Helen Hunt Falls, Bear Creek Rd, Gold Camp Rd ), Manitou Springs, Old Colorado City, etc.

Someone mentioned staying in Buena Vista, I prefer Salida, better Hotel choices cool old downtown. Driving over Independence Pass is a must. stop and let the kids run explore the small Ghost Town there. We almost always see Big Horn Sheep around the pass. This time of year the snow will still be on top too. Get a snow ball fight .
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I have never been to Grand Junction, but if it is not a 'have to' for you, i would recommend detouring to Aspen. You can stay on the cheap at Carbondale and drive into Aspen in 15 minutes. Plenty of parking this time year. The Maroon Bells are phenomenal to hike around. Also you can do Horse back riding at the T Lazy 7 ranch. 2 hour, half day, over night rides. http://www.tlazy7.com/summer-activities/#horseback. Go early if you want to drive. cars are banned at Maroon Bells between 8-5, have to ride the bus. Worth it to get there early and see the sunrise hit the peaks ( sunsets too ).
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If you have time, from carbondale, head over to marble, co and take the Crystal Mill Jeep Tours. Crystal Mill is one of the most photographed spots in the Rockies. http://smithfamilycolorado.com/CRJT/ Fun outing for the day.
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[desotodawg]

Some Pics from COS:
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Helen Hunt Falls:
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Star Kempf Residence near the Broadmoor:
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[SwampDawg]

Drove Independence Pass in my straight-stick Mustang. Had a blast. My wife did not. Little narrow *** road all the way, then I saw this sign "Danger - Road narrows ahead." Holy Crap!!!!!

 

[StillTbonewannabe]

We are traveling to Colorado for the first time in a couple of weeks. We are flying into Colorado Springs, driving to Breckenridge with a stop off at Pikes Peak. Is there anything else that would be something to do or see on the way to Breckenridge? We are spending a couple of days in Breckenridge and hope to go white water rafting and play golf. Our final two days we are driving over to Grand Junction. Any suggestions for the drive from Breck to Grand Junction? Places to stop and see, lunch etc.... Any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you!

Pike's peak is awesome. Just know it will be cold at the top. My dumbass 22 year old self was in a Tshirt and shorts walking around in the snow in June. I couldn't imagine people racing up that road with no guard rails. A truck in front of us stopped because the girl driving was having a panic attack. A guy had to switch over and drive instead.

 

[BlueRidgeMtns]

1. Garden of the Gods
2. Learn the difference between indica and sativa
3. Drink a beer at Oskar Blues, Avery, Great Divide
4. stay hydrated

 

[Allday.sixpack]

When you go back, hit Telluride rent a jeep and drive the Alpine Loop

 

[basedawg]

Altitude sickness happens, my wife gets it a lot when we head to the mountains. I suggest you buy the small bottles of oxygen on Amazon or buy them when you arrive. We went on a 3 day guided snowmobile tour in Yellowstone. She got sick but when we got the oxygen she took a few inhaling shots and right away her headache and nauseous went away. I will never go again with it. Just saying.

 

[fishwater99]

One more thing.
Only buy beer in the liquor store, the grocery and convenience stores only have 3.2% still. That should change next year though..

 

[JOE-DAWG]

If you are in Denver any, you need to eat breakfast here:

https://denbisco.com/

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

Not to hijack the thread but I fly out to Vail on Tuesday for a sales meeting. Will have 1 day outside of the usual meeting bs to do something. What's something unique to Vail I should do?

Thanks in advance....

 

[TNT.sixpack]

We do it annually in summer. Drive I70 west past vail and take the Minturn exit. Drive to Leadville (original saloon still there visited by doc Holliday with Bullet holes still in the walls- serves good burgers for lunch). Form there, take independence pass to aspen. Unbelievable drive. I can’t begin to describe it. Only open June thru early september. Then take I70 east back to Breckinridge 2 1/2 hours maybe. . It’s gonna be a full day so leave early and allow plenty of time to stop and take in the views. It’s simply unbelievable. I can’t begin to express it. For rafting, try timberline outfitters. Quality group with many trips to choose from. You’ll fall in love with Colorado. It’s my family’s fav place in the world. You’ll be depressed when u return to Mississippi.

 

[Beretta.sixpack]

Doggy Treats by Snoop. 17'in awesome.

TIA

Get those

 

[TheDawgOfWar]

Do the Stuff in the Springs mentioned. It is a rural drive from CS to Breck. Good food etc.. at Breck. If you are heading to GJ via 70 Go to The Mint in Silverthorne and overpay for a steak you cook yourself but is a lot of fun

Glenwood Springs has hot springs, is a cool town,and has an amusement park with rides on top of the mountain.

7 Hermets in Eagle has food and is a local brewery with good brews.

If you were coming from Denver way plenty more to see but CS is a different path.

I off-road and live here so Jeep unless you are experienced is a bad idea. Also it is muddy right now. Anything below 11k feet is cool but above you are still likely to see snow pack until July.

Not sure where you are looking to Whitewater but Buena Vista is good but out of your way.

Twin Lakes to Aspen across Independence Pass is really great. But us still closed. Typically opens this weekend so might be open when you are here.

Here is road openings and closures.

http://www.cotrip.org/map.htm#/roadConditions


I will be in Twin Lakes myself the next 4 days.

 

[ShrubDog]

Will you mail me some edibles

Rule #1: Never mail edibles in the summer time. Trust me.

 

[Arnold Babar.sixpack]

Don't do it period. I FedEx'd some oil for my vape pin a couple of years ago when I was on client trip in Telluride. 3 days later I get a phone call from the Harris County sheriffs department investigator asking my about a FedEx package addressed to my house. I told him I didn't know what he was talking about. Had to end up meeting the investigator for coffee one morning. He basically told me he knew it was me that sent and don't do it again. Luckily he went easy on me. The oil is a damn felony in Texas come to find out.

 

[patdog]

Yep. Get caught with a little MJ and it's a pretty minor misdemeanor. Transport it across state lines, and you've got yourself a felony.

 

[LanierDawg]

- Breckenridge Brewery Restaurant - good food and great craft beer, $2 pint happy hour daily
- mccullough gulch hike - about 10 miles or so from Breck and breathtaking
- the "dispensaries" are all in in the same place a few minutes from main street Breck - NEED TO DRIVE to them
- White water rafting on the Arkansas River is awesome, several places to do that

Enjoy - it is AWESOME out there

 

[ShrubDog]

Don't do it period. I FedEx'd some oil for my vape pin a couple of years ago when I was on client trip in Telluride. 3 days later I get a phone call from the Harris County sheriffs department investigator asking my about a FedEx package addressed to my house. I told him I didn't know what he was talking about. Had to end up meeting the investigator for coffee one morning. He basically told me he knew it was me that sent and don't do it again. Luckily he went easy on me. The oil is a damn felony in Texas come to find out.

Now that is bad luck right there. They must have had a tip or it was leaking because there is no telling how many elbows are mailed in and out of Harris county every day.

 

[SirBarksalot]

First, try and avoid I-70 WB on a Saturday afternoon. You could drive to the top of Mt Evans (if it’s open yet) , highest paved road in the country. It’s on your way.
Stop in Avon for a Beaver Liquors t-shirt...I think I went in there 5 times before I “got it”. http://www.beaverliquors.com

The vapor caves in Glenwood Springs are interesting.

 

[GloryDawg]

Just don't be on the road at 4:20.

 

[Arnold Babar.sixpack]

Have no clue how it got flagged. About 10 of us sent oil home from the same FedEx shop at the same time in Montrose. Some how that may have flagged it? Not sure, but I'm the only one of 10 that got a call from the Sheriffs office. To say it scared the **** out of me is an understatement. That would have been a neat story to explain to the wife and kids***

 

[SirBarksalot]

Not to hijack the thread but I fly out to Vail on Tuesday for a sales meeting. Will have 1 day outside of the usual meeting bs to do something. What's something unique to Vail I should do?

Thanks in advance....

If it were me, I’d do a float trip with either Minturn Anglers or Vail Valley Anglers. If you like fishing that is.

 

[fishwater99]

Never Fedex. USPS priority mail or UPS ground... Trust me...

 

[jackbaddawg]

Just got back. Colorado Springs is awesome . Get a cabin in Estes Park for a few nights is a lot of fun too . We enjoyed Pikes Peak last year .

 

[KentuckyDawg13]

Colorado Springs is sort of out of the way in terms of Breckenridge. Go straight to the Continental Divide (towards Breckenridge) and enjoy the scenes. Enough nature distractions to entertain anyone. White water rafting, mountain biking, brew tours, golf, etc.

 

[fishwater99]

FYI All major mountain passes are now open.

Independence Pass
Mount Evans Road
Rocky Mountain National Park


https://www.codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/SeasonalClosures.html

 

[garndawg]

I travel out there quite a bit for work. I'll add one more thing to your must do list: Rocky Mountain National Park. You enter north of Denver and exit west of Denver. Plan for a half day, at least.

I'd do RMNP before I did Pikes Peak. Same experience, only lasts longer and you see more stuff. Pikes is neat, but I prefer RMNP.

Also, if you have access, play the AFA Eisenhower Golf Course. Either 18, silver is my preferred. Just played there Wednesday. Be ready to take a lot of 3 putts, as the breaks are impressive.